Chandler Strawberry farming, changing fortunes of a young farmer

With the uncertainties of weather conditions in the country, some farmers are adopting other crops a part from the norm as alternatives. These are crops that do not solely depend on rain fed agriculture.

One such farmer is a young lady; Anne Mugo who is cultivating strawberries on a quarter acre piece of land and she is reaping handsomely.

The idea of growing strawberries arose from the fact that she needed to cultivate a unique crop as well as deviate from the ordinary maize and beans.

Her journey to farming dates back to her days in rural home, Embu County where her parents were farming to feed their family. One thing led to another and eventually she developed an interest in farming, strawberry farming becoming her new love as she narrates.

It is a venture she cannot compare with any other she has ever done before, such as tomatoes, mushroom and herbs. “Having incurred losses in my other farming ventures, I had to be more cautious.

I did a lot of research and visited a consultant in strawberry farming but the consultant didn’t assist much. Upon reading more in magazines and internet, I came across Kibe Njoroge a farmer and strawberries agricultural advisor, who is based in Uthiru, Kiambu County. I paid him a visit and his worthwhile advice is what has propelled me to where I am, though I also visited other strawberry farmers to get the practical bit of it,” she recounts.

To succeed in strawberry farming, a farmer has to choose the variety to grow wisely. For her case, she settled on Chandler, which its growing conditions are suitable with the Kenyan climate. The variety is best known for its vigorous growth, produces desirable strawberries which are brilliant red color, glossy, and have an exceptional flavor.

The Chandler variety has gained prominence among many farmers in Kenya due to its fast maturing rate, superior pest and disease resistance traits and low cost production process. On average strawberry takes three months to mature.

Being a perennial crop, harvesting is all year round. Strawberries are vegetative propagated through splits and runners. Splits are the most common method used but Anne opts for runners as these are young plants of the mother plant and their success rate is high compared to splits.

For the strawberries to generate well, they should be well spaced. The runners are first planted in a seed bed for a period of 30 days before they are transplanted to the fields.  She grows he crops under black mulching paper, intercropped with spring onions whose pungent smell repels snails and other pest.

The mulching helps to suppress weeds and retains moisture around the berries. “I have been in the business of growing strawberries for some time now. I have had no problems at all with pests and diseases. I farm organically by use of manure. What is even more encouraging is the fact that the markets have expressed such a huge appetite for strawberries, that it is hard to meet the demand. Infact one client was requesting if am able to be supplying to him 100kgs every week, which currently am not able to do,’’ she said.

Anne advices young women to embrace farming and not to depend entirely on white collar jobs as farming pay handsomely. “All that one needs, is to start from somewhere and concentrate; everyone is responsible for their own success,” she stated.

Strawberry farming is profitable as long as one produce quality berries. A strawberry farmer should research on market avenues. Currently, many retail chains, including supermarkets purchase the sweet fruits from farmers across the country.

The fact that it is used in blending other foods makes it one among the most sought after, fruit. Yoghurt making companies in the region as well as smaller customers including juice makers are good clientele a farmer can capitalize on.